Study Yoma folio 39A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
בא למדוד נפט, אומר לו: מדוד אתה לעצמך. בא למדוד אפרסמון, אומר לו: המתן לי עד שאמדוד עמך, כדי שנתבסם אני ואתה.
In the case of one who comes to measure and purchase naphtha, the merchant says to him: Measure it for yourself, as I prefer to keep my distance from the foul odor. With regard to one who comes to measure and purchase balsam, the merchant says to him: Wait for me until I can measure it with you, so that you and I will both be perfumed. Similarly, with regard to sin God merely provides an opening, whereas with regard to mitzvot God assists the individual in their performance.
תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל: עבירה מטמטמת לבו של אדם, שנאמר: ״ולא תטמאו בהם ונטמתם בם״, אל תקרי ״ונטמאתם״, אלא: ״ונטמטם״.
In the school of R' Yishmael it was taught: Sin stupefies the heart of a person who commits it, as it is stated: “And do not impurify yourselves with them, so that you should not be thereby impurified” (Leviticus 11:43) Do not read that term as: “And be impurified [venitmetem]”; rather, read it as: And your hearts will be stupefied [venitamtem].
תנו רבנן: ״(אל) תטמאו בהם ונטמתם בם״, אדם מטמא עצמו מעט — מטמאין אותו הרבה. מלמטה — מטמאין אותו מלמעלה. בעולם הזה — מטמאין אותו לעולם הבא.
A baraita states the following with regard to the verse: “And do not impurify yourselves with them, so that you should not be thereby impurified”; a person who impurifies himself a bit, they impurify him greatly. If a person impurifies himself of his own volition below, on earth, they impurify him even more so above, in Heaven. If a person impurifies himself in this world, they impurify him in the World-to-Come.
תנו רבנן: ״והתקדשתם והייתם קדושים״, אדם מקדש עצמו מעט — מקדשין אותו הרבה, מלמטה — מקדשין אותו מלמעלה, בעולם הזה — מקדשין אותו לעולם הבא.
Conversely, A baraita states the following with regard to the verse: “Sanctify yourselves and you will be sanctified” (Leviticus 11:44); a person who sanctifies himself a bit, they sanctify him and assist him greatly. If a person sanctifies himself below, they sanctify him above. If a person sanctifies himself in this world, they sanctify him in the World-to-Come.